whine/Whir from rear of 325 Cab E30

[petrolhead63]

Hi, since I bought my E30 325 Cab it has had a strange whine in the rear, I have not properly investigated yet and hoped some experience feedback might save me time. normally I would suspect the Diff, BUT it is not quite a usual diff whine and it does not stop when you lift off the accelerator as a diff normally does.

Difficult to describe without being present but it is more of a whirr than a whine, it is speed related and continues if clutch depressed and coasting. Also it can faintly be heard almost until the car has stopped, again a diff normally needs a bit more speed. It is not particularly loud and I am struggling to make out if it is in the centre or too one side.

There is no noticable backlash in any joints, no knocks on drive take up etc. Any suggestions as to the cause welcome based on experience of the model. I did wonder if it could be a bearing on one of the diff. shaft outputs? Any common problems known out there??

[chu346]

It could be something like one of the wheels catching on the arch or something along those lines?

[fuzzy]

have you checked the wheel bearings?

[DanThe]

Centre prop bearing maybe

[Theo]

Is it a rusty shed? A turd that I dismantled made a funny noise from the rear end, and I was concerned it was the LSD, but as it turns out it was just the HUGE holes in the inner arches which made the road noise much more noticeable!

[Ben1984]

I had a noise liek this in my old 320, turned out to be a wheel bearing

[petrolhead63]

guys the ideas are great, keep em coming.
In turn.
1)checked for rubbing...certainly not on arch, standard height car. Thought could be a mudflap so took em off! still does it, he he

2)Centre Prop......good idea, I am going to guess not. Think noise is too far back.

3) Rust holes! nope it is a goody.

4) Wheel bearing.......well have wondered and two of you think maybe too. I think, just think it may not be central, in which case it could be. I think that is what we will check. I need my usual nutty mate to lay on the back with seat out as I drive around....haha, did it with aimilar noise on an XJS and sorted it a long while ago.

Thanks all of you, I have learnt talk to the marque enthusiasts, usually people will know a models weak poits and likely/common faults.

Cheer
Petrolhead

[Gouki]

sounds like a bearing too me.

[essexboy]

sounds like a bearing to me had one go on my previous e30 n tht was more like a whiiring noise

[DRIFTBOY]

XJS!

What a wagon! Always loved those.
Especially after I passengered in a Lister 6.0 litre jobee!

Sounds like wheel bearing to me too though.
Or diff! But they go on forever like it.
When I bought my 325i the diff made it sound like a jet plane taking off!

[mrLEE30]

Especially after I passengered in a Lister 6.0 litre jobee!

drove one of them, silly car!

[petrolhead63]

[quote="DRIFTBOY"]XJS!

What a wagon! Always loved those.
Especially after I passengered in a Lister 6.0 litre jobee!

Rust like poo, but great cars. I have had a cuple of 3.6 manual box cars, last one a Cabriotet, manual, with nicely firmed up suspension on Spax etc. Super car, but an E30 is far far better.

[Ziggy]

More of a high pitched, 'hissy whine' than you'd expect from a wheel bearing? Diff input shaft bearing's where my money'd be.

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ic&t=46286

If you've not got an LSD, at least it's cheap to get a new (2nd hand) diff, or a good oportunity to upgrade...

[petrolhead63]

diff input shaft bearing, yeah it could be. Hissy whine sums it up. My experience of wheel bearing on other cars is more of a screech or "singing to you" type of noise. I assume bearing and seal can not be done without major surgery?

[romario]

I had a noisy rear wheel bearing on my E36. Made a steady noise in a straight line, a low noise when cornering hard to one side and loud noise when cornering hard to the other. (because the problem was on one side.) Had to find a garage with a "press" to fit the new bearing.

[Globulator]

Had to find a garage with a "press" to fit the new bearing.

That's a superb looking motor in your avatar. Oh Yes!!

[Bailey]

i've also got a bit of a dodgy noise from my cars back end.... i took it to the garage and they checked to see if the covers which go around the disks were rubbin... just a thought.... oh, and it wasnt that on my car if you were wondering...
Cheers, Guy.

[petrolhead63]

nope, checked all forms of possible rubbing. Its def mechanical of some kind. If it ever stops raining I might get under it jacked up and have a listen